Defensive line: Looking for a pass rush

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 23, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.

Text size

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil is the only player who finished with more than nine sacks in either of the past two seasons.

Defensive linemen

No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.
92	Elvis Dumervil	5-11	260	3
60	John Engelberger	6-4	260	9
63	D. Robertson	6-1	308	6
99	Alvin McKinley	6-3	294	9
77	Larry Birdine	6-4	270	2
95	Paul Carrington	6-7	270	3
93	Nic Clemons	6-6	300	2
96	Tim Crowder	6-4	275	2
91	Ebenezer Ekuban	6-4	275	10
68	Steven Harris	6-5	305	2
98	Josh Mallard	6-2	265	4
94	Jarvis Moss	6-6	265	2
90	Kenny Peterson	6-3	300	6
75	Carlton Powell	6-3	300	R
79	Marcus Thomas	6-3	305	2

Starters: Elvis Dumervil (DE), John Engelberger (DE), Dewayne Robertson (DT), Alvin McKinley (DT).

Backups: Ebenezer Ekuban (DE/DT), Marcus Thomas (DT), Jarvis Moss (DE), Tim Crowder (DE), Josh Mallard (DT), Kenny Peterson (DE/DT), Carlton Powell (DT), Steven Harris (DT), Paul Carrington (DE), Larry Birdine (DE), Nic Clemons (DE).

The lowdown: Several opposing offensive coordinators say the Broncos pass rush has failed to consistently pressure quarterbacks the past two seasons, especially through the middle. Since advancing to the AFC Championship Game in 2005, the Broncos have followed with seasons of 35 and 33 sacks.

Good to know: Dumervil is the only player who finished with more than nine sacks in either of those years.

PREVIOUS | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | Specialists | NEXT